£55,000 raised as part of the Windsor Platinum Jubilee Celebrations distributed to 36 local charities, projects and good causes

Programmes to support disadvantaged families, social isolation reduction, sports clubs, and those living with illness and disabilities to benefit

20 Nov 2023: Monies raised during the Windsor Platinum Jubilee Celebrations in 2022, and donated to the Prince Philip Trust Fund, have now been distributed back into the local communities of Windsor and Maidenhead.

In a recent Board of Trustees meeting in November, chaired by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, grants totalling £55,000 were given to a number of local projects that support residents in need across the Royal Borough. At the meeting, The Duke of Edinburgh expressed his thanks to the Windsor Platinum Jubilee Committee for their fundraising and hard work organising and coordinating community events for the Platinum Jubilee, featuring the Jubilee Weekend on the Long Walk.
 
Funds were raised to stage the celebratory events and to create lasting legacies, most notably the Platinum Jubilee Drinking Fountain, now proudly in situ on Castle Hill. Engagement across Windsor Schools was enhanced by the Jubilee events, with the creation of a totally collaborative annual Schools’ Week and the Windsor Musical Instrument Fund, which provides over 100 musical instruments for use by all local schools. All residual funds were donated to the Prince Philip Trust Fund to distribute to local charities, projects and good causes.
 
Graham Barker, Chair of the Windsor Platinum Jubilee Committee said;
 
“Everyone involved in organising the Windsor Jubilee events is immensely proud of what was achieved, – all the special celebrations, plus the legacies created for the community, – and for all of this we are extremely grateful for the generosity of all of our sponsors.”
 
In this special round funding by The Prince Philip Trust, a number of charities and projects that support disadvantaged families and children received grants including The Brett Foundation to support the creation of a new cafe for families in poverty; and the Tall Ships Youth Trust who will take 10 local young people from disadvantaged backgrounds on an educational voyage.
 
Programmes that aim to reduce social isolation also received funding, including Mens Matter’s for their social well-being groups in both Windsor and Maidenhead, and K Community Foundation, operating out of St Luke’s Community Centre in Maidenhead, who have received funding for their monthly community lunch that caters for between 60-100 refugees, those experiencing homelessness and families in poverty. The charity Re-Engage received funding to boost their outreach programme to combat loneliness in over 75s in the Royal Borough, and Parkinson’s Care and Support UK have received financial aid to help them to reduce isolation amongst people living with the condition. Additionally the Maidenhead chapter of Cycling Without Age have been supported to buy their first trishaw in which they can give free bicycle rides to the elderly.
 
Charities that help those living with illness, disability and loss also received funding and include Thames Hospice, Cruse Bereavement Support and Parents and Children Together (PACT). Chattertots also received funds to provide speech therapy for young children online, and local sports organisations and clubs have also received a financial boost. Maidenhead Sea Cadets, White Waltham Cricket Club, Maidenhead Cycle Hub and Links Gymnastics all successfully applied for grants. In addition, local sporting talent in the form of Olympic Trap Shooter Michael Bovingdon and rower Jacob Iroras have both received support to train towards future Commonwealth and Olympic games.

Chris Aitken, Secretary and Trustee of the charity said: 

“We are so incredibly grateful to all those who made the events for the Platinum Jubilee in Windsor in May last year so successful. Not only did it bring local people together in the most wonderful way to make memories and celebrate 70 years of our late Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, but also gave the opportunity to raise funds that are now directly helping some of our most disadvantaged residents and supporting organisations that help many people feel less alone. That is a legacy of which our whole community can be proud.”